Room disinfection by means of volatile substances in the form of aerosols



United States Patent ROOM DISINFECTIONBY MEANS OF VOLATZLE i SUBSTANCES IN THE FORM OF 'AEROSQLS No Drawing. Application August 26, 1955 Serial No. 530,911

Claims priority, application Germany September 1, 1954 6 Claims. (Cl. 167-39) The present invention relates to room disinfection by means of volatile substances in the form of aerosols.

2,900,301 Patented Aug. 18, 1959 way of example have been carried out in the following It is known that for example propylene glycol or tri- L manner: in each particular case the substances were carefully atomized or vaporized in a closed glass room by heating, or they were sprayed into said room by means of an evaporation apparatus such as a thermoplate or by means ofa propellant, and were thus allowed to act on the test'germs which were dried onto object carriers at room temperature.

The disinfecting action of chloro-hydroxy-toluenes in the form of aerosols, mist, or gas is far superior to that of toluene (cf. Eichholtz, Lehrbuch der Pharmakologie) in aqueous suspension, for example for the preservation of urine or enzymes. Since, however, their in vitro effect in aqueous solution against gram negative and gram positive bacteria and fungi is likewise very small, it is not surprising that the practical use of, for example 6- chloro-3-hydroxy-4-isopropyl-toluene, has not been described in any pertinent publication (cf. R. Miiller, Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Lehmanns Verlag, or Eichholtz:

Lehrbuch der Pharmakologie).

whereby vigorous and acute irritant-effects are produced with the necessary concentrations of 10 cc. per 1 cubic meter of space. For the purpose in question it has also conifer'ic oils, in many cases do not meetrthe requirements.

Now I have found that chloro-hydroxy-toluenes corresponding to the general formula:

CH3 Cl- R OH wherein R represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical,

particularly 6-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-isopropyl toluene, in the form of aerosols, mist or gas, are surprisingly effective for combating bacteria, fungi and viruses, and greatly excel the action of other known preparations. The compounds of this invention are useful for combating microorganisms, insects and parasites; they maybe used alone or, dissolved in lipoid solvents, oils, fats or waxes, or in the form of an emulsion, or in a carrier, for example powder, or may be used in admixture with other active substances,,for example eugenol, triethylene glycol, benzoic acid esters, essential oils, contact insecticides or respiratory poisons. The active substances are atomized or vaporized, for example by the external temperature, byheating or by means of a propellant from which or. with which they are continuously sprayed to the surrounding.space. They may also be given the form. of'aerosols with the aid of appropriate apparatus.

Compounds of the kind described above are, for example; 6-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-isopropyl-toluene, 2-chloro- 4-hydroxy-toluene, 4-ehloro-2-hydroxy-toluene, 4-chloro- 3fhyglroxy-toluene, 6-cl1loro-3-hydroxy-toluene, 5-ch1oro- 2-hydroxy;4-butyl-toluene, 2-hydroxy-3 propyl-4-chlorotoluene, 4-chloro-6 hydroxy-3-dimethylpropyl-toluene or 2 hy ro yrtchl roda nolu n I Thus, for example, the in vitro effect showed that gram positive germs, such as staphylococci, are killed only ata concentration of 1: 20000 after 4 hours, whereas gram negative germs (coli bacteria) are not even killed at a concentration of 1:10000 after 4 hours.

In most cases it is suflicient to atomize or vaporize 0.2 to 0.5 gram per cubic meter of room in orderto obtain complete disinfection. The active substance may be vaporized in the evening and the room may be re- ---opened in the next morning. Tests have, furthermore, [indicated that in many cases the germs are killed even within some minutes.

Thus, it is obvious that disinfection according to this invention is much simpler than the known disinfecting methods by washing. The tolerability is likewise good. In' the tests made with a concentration of 1:1 million and 1:2 millions, mice, rabbits and guinea pigs have been exposed overnight to the action of gaseous 6-chloro-3 hydroXy-4-is0propy1-toluene. The animals were and remained lively without ill-efiects upon their health. Also the autopsy showed no' pathologic findings.

Y The mixture of chloro-hydroxy-toluenes with eugenol, ethyl benzoate and triethylene glycol have a synergistic effect. Moreover, they offer the advantage of being sprayable in the form of a solution.

The following examples serve to illustrate the inventiou, but they are not intended to limit it thereto:

1 6 -chloro-3-hydroxy-4isopropyl-toluene is vaporized on small electrically heated dishes in a closed room of 12 cubic m te s- 7 Into this room were placedthefollowing gram negative and gram positive, bacteria, fungi and Viruses which had bacillus Friedlander, Penicillin glaucum, Mycobacterium Rabinovit sch, Tb:Gallinaceus strain and-Louping ill virus.

Some test plates carrying the microorganisms were placed at the bottom of the room and other ones near the ceiling. The-microorganisms were still killed with a. the following concentrations:

3 Table 1 Action of 6 chloro 3 hydroxy-4-isopropyl-toluene (action overnight, about 12 hours), temperature 20 0., relative humidity 70 percent.

A mixture consisting of 19 percent of 6-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-isopropyl-toluene, 39 percent of benzoic acid ethyl ester, 40 percent of triethylene glycol and 2 percent of 5 citronell (Ceylon or Java) is vaporized or sprayed in Emotive cncentmion,g,/cc.0fa1t an amount of 0.5 or 1 cc. per cubic meter of room. Microorganism E MPLE Bottom Ceiling V p 7 A mixture consistlng of 10 percent of 6-chloro-3-hy- Para-typhoid bacteria 115-10 millions- 1:5rnillions. 10 Y- 9p py 19 percent of eugenol, 69 p flg cent of triethylene glycol and 2 percent of citronell is mfliio n s vaporized or sprayed in an amount of, for example, 0.5 -lg to 1 cc. per cubic meter of room. 1 22-1 1 5 millions. 1:5-10111111111015. EXAMPLE 1 Im on 1 iooiioiig A spray can containing percent of the mixture 1 Zmillions Tb. gaumaceus strainm do u 1 5mmions described in Example 4, 40 percent of difluoro dichloro Louping 111 Virus minions, methane (F 12) and 40 percent of trichlorofluoro-metnane V V r 20 is sprayed, for example, into a cupboard. The concentra- At a concentration of 1:5 millions, air borne micro- P 1 actlv? Substance Per Cublc meter of room organisms, for example coli-bacteria and staphylococci, 1S attamed by commng In secondsare lulled with certainty, and at a concentratlon of 1:10 EXAMPLE 7 millions they are killed for a great part. I

E l 2 25 A spray can containing 20 percent of the mixture dexamp e scribed in Example 5, 40 percent of difiuoro-dichloro- The following table indicates the action of the abovemethane and 40 percent of trichlorofluoro-methane is mentioned chloro-hydroxy-toluenes, after vaporization, on sprayed as described in Example 6. i i some important bacteria. The concentrations given indicate the minimum effective amount of vaporized sub- EXAMPLE 8 stance in grams per com. of room content (=weight/vol- A spray can containing 20 percent of 6-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-1sopropyl-to1uene, 40 percent of difiuorodichloro- A Mycobaet. Substance Para-typhoid Staph. aureua Prat. vulg. Pen. glaucum Rabinobacteria, Breslau ,SG 511 vitsch 1:1 million 1100,000 1:500,000- 1 50,000..... 1150,000 o do "do"..- 1 50,000-.. 1:50pm) l:2rnillions l:2millions d dn d 0,000"-.. 50,000 v d0 -do .-do 1:50-100,000. 1 100,000 VI; 1:1-2millions- -12milli0ns 1'1-2 millions 1:100,0U0 1 100,000 Vl'T 1:2-5 million 2-5 millions VIII .do do I=2ch1oro-4-hydr0xy-t0luene. II=4-chloro-2-hydroxy-toluene. III 4-chloro-3-hydroxy-toluene.

IV=6-chl oro-3-hydroxy-toluene. V=5-chloro-2-hydroxy4-butyl-toluene. VI=2-hydroxy-3-pr0pyl-4-ch1oro-t0l uene. VII=4-chloro-6-hydroxy-3-dimethylpropyl-toluene. VIII=Z-hydroxy-4-chl0ro-5-amyl-toluene.

EXAMPLE 3 A solution of 6-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-isopropyl-toluene of 20 percent strength in eugenol has a synergistic effect on microorganisms (see Table 2). The solution was vaporized as described in Example 1. The efiect is the same as with the spraying method.

Table 2 Efiective concentration-(colon. of air) Microorganism Bottom Ceiling Para-typhoid bacteria 1:5-1O millions 122-5 millions. Typhoid eria 6 1:5-10 millions. Dysenterianiu 1:25 millions.

1:5-10 millions.

Proteus 1:10 millions.

Pneum. Friedland Do. Staph. SG 511 1:2-5 millions. Staph. dim 13. Do. Strept. 77- 7 Do.

Pen. glaucum 1:1-2 millions. Myeobact. Rabinovitsch 1:2 millions. Tb. gallinaceus strain do D0. Louping ill virus. 1: 2-5 millions"..- Do.

Eugenol alone is less effective (for example Staphyl. aureus 12500.000, Parat. B 1:1 million, Rabinovitsch 11500.000).

Mycobact. 7

methane and 40 percent of trichlorofluoromethane is sprayed as described in Examples 6 and 7.

I claim:

1. The method of killing microorganisms in room 4. The method of killing microorganisms in room infection which comprises atomizin'g'a mixture of '19 percent 6-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-isopropyl-toluene, 39 per.- cent benzoic acid ethyl esterandabout 40 percentitrh ethylene glycol. j

5. The method of killing microorganisms room disinfection which comprises atomizing a mixture essentially containing 19 percent 6 -chloro-3 hydroxyl-isopropyl toluene and 39 percent benzoicacid ethyl ester. 7 v

6. The method of killing microorganisms in roomdis,

5 infection which comprises atomizing a mixture essentially 2,900,801 5 6 containing 19 percent 6 -ch1or0-3-hydroxy-4-isopropy1- OTHER REFERENCES toluene and 40 percent methylene glycol U. S. Dispensatory, 24th ed., 1947, Lippincott Co.,

Ph1'1a., p. 461.

References Cited in the file of this patent Chem. Abstn, v01. 32, 1938, page 616 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Y t 1 B t t f A t t f 3500 oumans e a ac enos am c m y o 2546895 Jarowskl 1951 Organic Compounds for Myco. Tb. Var Hominis, FOREIGN PATENTS N.R.C. Rev., No. 4, 1953, pp. 57, 58, 69, 93, 138 pert. 9,103 Great Britain 1890 Klarman et 211.: J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 55, June 1933, 118,667 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1918 10 1 536,247 Great Britain May 8, 1941 859,202 Germany Dec. 11, 1952 

1. THE METHOD OF KILLING MICROORGANISMS IN ROOM DISINFECTION WHICH COMPRISES ATOMIZING 6-CHLORO-3-HYDROXY-4-ISOPROPYL-TOLUENE AS THE MAIN ACTIVE TOXICANT. 